Stories from Friday, July 10, 2020

Living the 4-H pledge, the Putnam County Junior Leaders are still finding ways while meeting virtually during this pandemic to “pledge our hands to larger service” and “our health to better living” for others. For many assisted living facilities in Putnam County, it has been challenging to keep their residents safe and find ways to help brighten their days. Junior Leaders discussed what could be done for our local assisted living facilities during one of their meetings...

Here in Putnam County our flowers are blooming and our vegetable gardens are producing, just as always. But this summer at Harris Hall, things are different. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2020 Putnam County 4-H Fair has gone a different direction. Harris Hall, Putnam County’s ag and horticulture building, won’t be open and there won’t be the usual open shows exhibiting flowers, ag products, herbs, vegetable produce and floral arrangements...

The Harris Hall committee members are continuing to focus on sharing their agriculture and horticulture knowledge with the community for 2020. They will do this by providing daily virtual Kids’ Corner activities and educational videos. Normally, these events take place in the Harris Hall Ag and Horticulture Building during the Putnam County 4-H Fair...

The 2020 Putnam County Adult Open Class (AOC) will be postponed until 2021. It was decided that the health and safety of exhibitors, judges and volunteers was not to be jeopardized. The AOC has decided that the York Automotive Community Building area typically used for AOC exhibits would be better suited to provide 4-H’ers an opportunity to exhibit while enabling greater social distancing...

• All 4-H’ers and 4-H volunteers will be required to wear a face covering while showing or helping. During times when you are not actively showing or helping and social distancing can be maintained, masks may be removed. We know that this is not ideal but we ask for your cooperation so we can move forward with our fair...

DePauw University President Lori White said she is “dismayed and concerned about the additional anxiety caused by this unwarranted and mean-spirited ruling” issued earlier this week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that international students who take only remote classes in the upcoming term must return to their home country...

Daniel Max “Danny” Green, 60, of Greencastle, passed away Thursday, June 18, 2020, at his residence surrounded by his family. Danny was born in Greencastle on March 17, 1960, the son of Rudy and Joan (Cox) Green. He was a graduate of Greencastle High School...

Maybe we should just cancel the fair this year. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve probably heard that line spoken a hundred times here in the Banner Graphic newsroom. It’s not that we don’t like the fair — the fun, the food, the celebration of accomplishments — but it is a long, hot, tiring week for everyone. I think many of us just feel beaten into submission by the end...

COVID-19 has disrupted every area of normal life. Businesses closed for weeks on end, concerts were cancelled and family celebrations postponed indefinitely.   Along with the impact on our everyday lives, social distancing measures have affected how Endeavor will work with the Putnam County Fair this season. We knew that the fair was going to look different this year and we wanted to help keep it as normal as possible.  ...